Tool retainer



Nov. 30, 1954 c. F. BAlER TOOL RETAINER Filed Dec. 30, 1950 m .w a a m m a/IA? m @0 (Ittomegs 2,695,788 Patented Nov. 30, 1954 United States Patent Office TOOL RETAINER Charles F. Baier, Detroit, Mich.

' Application December 30, 1950, Serial No. 203,658

14 Claims. (Cl. 279--77) This invention relates to punch or die retainers, inclusively designated tool retainers, for holding punches or dies or, more particularly, the die buttons of dies, in punch presses or other machines to which they may be applicable.

One object of this invention is to provide a punch or die retainer for punches or dies wherein the punch or die button may be instantly removed and replaced if it becomes dull, too short or damaged during its operational 1i e.

Another object is to provide a punch or die retainer of the foegoing character wherein the punches or die buttons may be replaced in exactly the same relationship and position relatively to one another which they occupied before their removal, regardless of their crosssectional shape, whether round, square, triangular or other cross-sectional shape.

A still further object is to provide a punch or die retainer for punches or dies wherein the punch or die button cannot be inserted and locked unless it is in the same positional relationship as it was when it was removed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section, taken along the line 11 in Figure 2, of a tool retainer according to one form of the invention, in its tool holding position;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the tool retainer of Figure 1, taken along the line 22 in Figure 1, showing the punch or die retainer in its tool-holding position;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 1; p

Figure 4 is a vertical section of the tool retainer alone, takenalong the line 44 in Figure 5, showing the tool retainer in its tool-releasing position; and

Figure 5 is a horizontal section through the tool retainer of Figure 1, taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 4, showing the tool or die retainer in its tool-releasing position shown in Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 shows a die set, generally designated 9, including a pair of tool retainers, according to the invention, namely a punch retainer, generally designated 10, in use with a die retainer, generally designated 11.

The punch retainer includes a block-like housing 12 which is bored as at 13 to receive bolts or fasteners 14 securing it to the upper shoe 15 of the die set 9, this upper shoe 15 being in turn secured 'to the reciprocable platen of a conventional punch press (not shown). The housing 12 is also bored as at 16 to receive dowel or locating pins 17 which will permit exact repositioning of the punch retainer 10 in the same orientation each time it is secured to the upper shoe 15 after removal therefrom. A bore 18 in the housing 11 is also provided to receive the punch 19. The bore 18 opens into a counterbore 20 which receives a back-up plate or disc 21 against which the upper end 22 of the punch 19 rests and which in turn rests against the upper shoe 15. The punch 19 is provided with a groove or flute 19a of arcuate cross-section (Figure 3). The upper portion of this groove 19 is interrupted by a transverse slot or notch 23 having an upper lip 24.

The housing 11 is also furnished with a threaded bore 25 located adjacent the bore 18 with its axis parallel to that of the bore 18. The threaded bore 25 opens into counterbores 26 and 27 of successively increasing diameters. Mounted in the bores 25, 26 and 27 is a rotary locking member 28 having a threaded shank 29. threaded into the threaded bore 25 and provided preferably with a back-up plate 21 (Figure l).

hexagonal wrench socket 29a for receiving a. conventional Allen wrench, namely an L-shaped rod of hexagonal crosssection. The threaded shank 29 is connected by a neck 30 to the other components of the rotary locking member 28, these being cylindrical portions 31 and 32 of successively increasing diameters which fit snugly but rotatably in the bores 26 and 27 respectively. The cylindrical portion 31 has substantially the same radius of curvature as the bore 26 in which it revolves and the arcuate groove 19a in the punch 19. The bore 26 intersects the bore 18, so that the punch 19, when placed in the bore 18 and properly aligned, receives the broad rim of the cylindrical portion 31 in its groove 19a (Figure 3). The cylindrical portion 32 has the same radius of curvature as the bore 27 in which it revolves. The bore 27 intersects the bore 18 in which the punch 19 is received so that the broad rim of the cylindrical portion 32 overhangs or extends into the bore 18 and also into the notch 23 of the punch 19 when the punch is fully entered in the bore 18 with its end 22 seated against the The cylindrical portion 32, however, has a cutaway portion. or flat spot 33 which, when the rotary locking member 28 is rotated into the position shown in Figure 4, provides clearance for the punch 19 to be freely withdrawn from the bore 18, the cylindrical member 32 being moved out of engagement with the notch 23 of the said punch by the turning of the rotary locking member.

The punch 19 is provided with a narrowed working end .34 having a working face 35 of any desired cross-section which punches a hole 36 of corresponding cross-section in the work piece 37 paced upon the die retainer 11 beneath the punch in the operation of the invention, described hereinafter.

The die retainer 11 (Figure 1) upon which the workpiece 37 rests, is generally similar in form to the punch retainer 10 previously described, having a block-like housing 38 which is bored as at 39 to receive bolts or fasteners 49 which secure the housing to the lower shoe 41 of the .die set, the lower shoe 41 in turn being secured to the bolster plate of the punch press (not shown). Like the housing 12 of the punch retainer 10, the die retainer housing 38 is bored as at 42 to receive dowel pins or 10- cating pins 43, the purpose of which is to facilitate reorientation of the die retainer when securing it to the lower shoe 41 for re-use.

The housing 38 is provided with a bore 44 to receive the die or die button 45. This die is hollow, having a die cavity 46 generally conforming in. cross-section to the shape of the working face 35, and cross-section of the working end 34 of the punch 19. The die cavity 46 opens into a larger clearance passage 47 extending downward to an opening 48 in the lower shoe 41 of the die set, so that each punching 49 cut from the workpiece 37 may fall through to a pin (not shown) or other receptacle, and so not interfere with the operation of the device. The die 46 is cylindrical and has a vertical groove 45a, arouate in cross-section, which is interrupted by a notch 50 having a lower lip 51.

The housing 38 is also furnished with a threaded bore 52 adjacent the bore 44 and having an axis parallel to that of the bore 44. The threaded bore 52 opens into counterbores 53 and 54 of successively increasing diameters (Figure l). Mounted in the bores 52, 53 and 54 is a rotary locking member 55 having a threaded shank 56 threaded into the threaded bore 52. The threaded shank 56 is furnished with a hexagonal wrench socket 57, like the socket 29a in the threaded shank 29 in the punch retainer 10 and also for receiving an Allen wrench.

The threaded shank 56 is joined by a neck or narrowed portion 58 to cylindrical portions 59 and 60 which con stitute the remaining parts of the rotary locking member 55. The cylindrical portions 59 and 60 fit snugly but rotatably in the bores 53 and 54 respectively, each cylindrical portion having approximately the same radius of curvature as the bore in which it turns. The bore 53 intersects the bore 44 so that the broad rim of the cylindrical portion 59 in the former bore is received in the groove 45a of the die 45, when the said die 45 is properly aligned and located in the bore 44, in a fashion similar to the manner in which the broad rim of the cylindrical poron. 31 i treated. n. thesr are 19. 1. ot the. punch 1. (Figure 3).

The bore 44 is also intersedted by the bore 54 so that e ad im Qftha yl ndrical PQI iQ o e a into, he bore '44 and also into the notch 56. of the, said dieis fullyinserted, and seated upon h b d 4.1 the bQttornof the bore 44. (Figure 1 The Cylindrical portionfifl, however, resembles, the cylincalp tion 32 (th p rr t hefipunq e n fil o whic it correspd lds). in that it is cut away or flattened as at 6 1, providing clearanee for the die.45 to be withdrawn "from the bore 44 by rotating the rotary locking ember 5.5 and thu otat the, cy n c 'por on so that itsbroad rirn swings out of engagement with the notch 50 of the die 45 as the flat'spotdl, comes to, face the said notch.

In describing; the operation of the above device, it is assumedthat the punch retainer 10 andyupper shoe 15 of the die. set 9. have been secured to the platen of the punch press, and that the die retainer lland lower shoe 4l liave been secured to, the'bolster plate of the punch press] It is also assumed that the' rotary lockingjrnember 28 occupies the punch-releasing position within the punchretainenlflshown in Figure 4, wherein, the cylindrical p'ortion 32' does not extend into the bore 18, so that the punch 19 may easily be inserted in the said bore. The same holds true of the corresponding parts of the die retainer lllj narriely that the rotary locking member 55 is turned solthat the cylindrical portion 60 does not extend into the bore 44, but presents its flat spot 61 to the said bore,so that the die 45 may be completely fitted into thetbore.

The oper'taor selects the punch 19 desired and inserts it into the bore 18; of the punch retainer, pushing it upwarduntil the edgeof the upper end 22 of the punch 19 '-is" temporarily stoppedby the lower edge 62 of the cylindrical-portion 31. i 'In this event, the operator then rotates thepuneh 19 until the broad rim ofthe cylindrical portion 31; enters the groove 19a, whereupon the punch may be. pushed upward, the said-groove 19a sliding past the'curved surface of the cylindricalportion 31. The continued'upward motio'nof the'punch 1'9 eventually brings its upper end 22- into abutment'with the back-up plate 2-1. 'The punch halts in the position shown in Figure 4 'wit h 'the'notc'h 23- then facing the fiat spot. 33 of the cylindri'cal, portion 32.

Still holding the punch imposition, the operator inserts a conventional Allen wrench (which, as previously stated, is a wrenchin'the form-of an L-sh-aped rod of hexagonal cross-section) in the hexagonal socket 294; in the threaded' shank 220i the rotary loeking member 28 and turns ittso as to "screw the said rotary locking member further in'to the housing 12f As 'it moves gradually upward, the cylindricalportion,31 'turns within the bore 26 and the groove} 19a, but-the punch is held firmly in a constant orientation by the said cylindrical portion, which engages "the groove 19a.' The rotating cylindrical portion swings into the notch 23 as it gradually rises until its upper edge contacts the upper lip 24 ,of the said notch and forces the-punch 19 solidly against the backup plate 21, where; it is held firmly in position for use (Figure l).

The preparation of the die retainer 11' for use is very similar to that described above for the punch retainer 10. A die 45. having a diecavity 46- corresponding in shape to the working face 35"of'the punch 19 is selected and inserted in the bore .44 and allowed to move downward until its lower edge strikes the upper edge 63 of the cylindrical portion 59-. The operator then turns the die until the groove 45a thereof is in registry with that portionofthe cylindrical portion 9 projectinginto the bore 44-. The. die 45.n1a'y then descend-to the bottom of the bore 44, the groove 45:; sliding downward over the rim of the cylindrical portion 59,

When the die 45 halts by meeting the. bed 41 at the bottom of the bore 44, it is ready to beflockedin place by the rotary locking member 55. This is done by inserting an Allen Wrench in, the hexagonal socket 57, in the manner previously described in. connection with the punch, retainer 10, and turning the: rotary locking member 55, screwing the threaded shank 56 into the threaded borev52. This. has the effect of gradually driving the rotarytlocking member downward as it revolves. The cylindrical portion 59 turns within the bore 53 and the 7 groove 45a as it descends, but the die 45 from, turnmg. and, so, held in constant orientation. with is prevented the punch 19 and punch press by the engagement of the said cylindrical portion 59 with the groove 45a of the die.

The cutaway cylindrical portion 60 also turns as it descends, swinging in and out of the notch 50 of the die 45, but it finally contacts the lower lip 51 of the notch and forces the die firmly downward against the bed 41, where it is held inthe position shown in Figure l. The die is now ready forum with the punch 11.

The operator places the workpiece 37 upon the top of the housing 38. of the die, whereit may be held in alignment by a clamp, a guideor any suitable means. The reciprocable platen 15 of thepunch press is lowered so that the narrowedv working end 3,4;of the punch 19 is forced down upon and punchesth'rou'gh the work piece (Figure 1), making the desired cut in the said work piece. The working end 34 'is received in the die cavity 46 and moves. downward, forcing the punching 42- ahead ,of iit until the punching 49; drops intoi 'thelarger, clear passage 47, or is forced into the said. passage by ceeding punchings collecting abov'eiL-and down;

the opening 48 in the bed 41 to any suitablerece acle; The platen 15,is. then raised so that the punch- 119, clears the dietcavity 26, and theworkpiecefi'fi Thedat-ter may more than one pair of aligned, punch retainers 1,0; and" die retainers 11. In, many interchangeable dies used: in

making stamping s. oi: punched parts. in several different. slight modifications, such as where thesame partiin t. be adapted to slightly varyingmachines, for. example, to, differentmakesorniodels ofii'autoniobiles', a single 1:. set will be provided with 'a punch retainerirol el retainer 11 'n each Place. where-,there, is. tribe a hole" in the part, regardless, of whethereach par't,has, all.'of. the holes provided; by the; die set; Where ne part. has a pair of holes for the, samjpurppse, but, location, the punches for the holes in other. e of the part willbe removedfrorn. theirrespect'ivepunch retainer, so that nopunchin'g'will take plaiie 11 hat, location. The same arrangement is. used for producing right-hand parts, and left'- hand-'parts' of syrnrnetrioally opposite design from, the. same die set, thetpuriches, for

the holes peculiar to the rigl t-hank'i;parts being omitted;

when the left-hand: pa tts are eing puncheclfand, vice versa. Frequently, also, the left-hand parh suczh as; a f n er. used in a mq or ehi letm y haveol js orlwires, conduits or. the. like which are, not found in the, corre; sponding right-hand'part andvice versa.. The present? invention enables theprovisionv f a single, die set, for parts varying in. this manner, the? tempdrarily, unused; punches beingtemporarilyremoved;

While the invention as illustrated is primarily applied. to e. Pu eta .0, how t n he pp r. halti of Figure 1, it is. equallywell applied to thepdieiretaine r shown inthe lower half of Figured. Accordingly? th I generic term tool retainer hasheenemployedjhre and in the claims hereof to include .ta p m taf tainer 10 and the die retainer 11.

What Itclaimis' f I 1. A'tool assembly, comprisingatoolhavingashaft; portionv with. a longitudinal, groove; of arcuate, cross section, extending le'ngthwise therealong rpm-y approximately one d re f d a transv rse. r cess-extending,

and out of said recess in response. to the rotationofisaida rotary member.

2. A tool assembly. comprisinga toolv having-Has shaft portion with a longitudinal; groove of: arcuate cross section extending. lengthwise rtherealong from approxi g mately one end thereof andza transverse recess-extending laterally into said sha-ft portion from said groove; and a tool retainer having ahousing with a pair of-' intersecting bores, onebore being configuredto recei'yesa-id" tool shaft portion, anda-rotary' ,rnernhendisposedfin; the other bore, said;rotary-member'having a cylindrical;

portion 'engag'eable with said groove and an oflfset portion rotatable into and out of said recess in response to the rotation of said rotary member, said other bore having a threaded portion and said rotary member having a correspondingly threaded part threadedly engaging said threaded portion. v

3. A tool assembly comprising a tool having a shaft portion with a longitudinal groove of arcuate crosssection extending lengthwise therealong from approximately one end thereof and a transverse recess extending laterally into said shaft portion from said groove, and a tool retainer having a housing with a pair of intersecting bores, one bore being configured to receive said tool shaft portion, andtr rotary member disposed in .the other bore, said rotary member having a cylindrical portion engageable with said groove and a partially-cylindrical portion rotatable into and out of said recess in response to the rotation of said rotary member, said partially-cylindrical portion having a cutaway part disposed outside said recess in one position of said rotary member.

4. A tool assembly comprising a tool having a shaft portion with a longitudinal groove of arcuate crosssection extending lengthwise therealong from approximately one end thereof and a transverse recess extending laterally into said shaft portion from said groove, and a tool retainer having a housing with a pair of intersecting bores, one bore being configured to receive said tool shaft portion, the other bore having a plurality of coaxial bore portions of different diameters, and a rotary member disposed in the other bore, said rotary member having a cylindrical portion positioned in one of said bore portions and engageable with said groove and an offset portion positioned in another of said bore portions and rotatable into and out of said recess in response to the rotation of said rotary member.

5. A tool assembly comprising a tool having a shaft portion with a longitudinal groove of arcuate cross-section and a transverse recess, and a tool retainer having a housing with a pair of intersecting bores, one bore being configured to receive said tool shaft portion, the other bore having a plurality of coaxial bore portions of different diameters, one of said bore portions being threaded, and a rotary member disposed in the other bore, said rotary member having a cylindrical portion positioned in a second one of said bore portions engageable with said groove and an offset portion positioned in a third one of said bore portions and rotatable into and out of said recess in response to the rotation of said rotary member, and said rotary member having a correspondingly threaded portion threadedly engaging said threaded bore portion.

6. A tool assembly comprising a tool having a shaft portion with a longitudinal groove of arcuate crosssection and a transverse recess, and a tool retainer having a housing with a pair of intersecting bores, one bore being configured to receive said tool shaft portion, the other bore having a plurality of coaxial bore portions of different diameters, one of said bore portions being threaded, and a rotary member disposed in the other bore, said rotary member having a cylindrical portion positioned in one of said bore portions and engageable with said groove and an ofiset portion positioned in another of said bore portions and rotatable into and out of said recess in response to the rotation of said rotary member, and said rotary member having a correspondingly threaded portion threadedly engaging said threaded bore portion.

7. A tool assembly comprising a tool having a shaft portion with a longitudinal groove of arcuate crosssection and a transverse recess, and a tool retainer having a housing with a pair of intersecting bores, one bore being configured to receive said tool shaft portion, the other bore having a plurality of coaxial bore portions of ditferent diameters, one of said bore portions being threaded, and a rotary member disposed in the other bore, said rotary member having a cylindrical portion positioned in one of said bore portions and engageable with said groove and an offset portion positioned in another of said bore portions and rotatable into and out of said recess in response to the rotation of said rotary member, and said rotary member having a correspondingly threaded portion threadedly engaging said threaded bore portion.

8. A tool comprising a body having a shaft portion of partrally-cyhndrical configuration with a longitudinal groove therein of arcuate cross-section extending lengthwise therealong from approximately one. end thereof,

saidshaft portion having therein a. shouldered transverse recess extending more deeply into said shaft portion from said groove, said transverse recess extending laterally entirely across said shaft portionfrom side to side thereof beyond the lateral edges of said groove.

9. A tool comprising a body having a shaft portion of partially-cylindrical configuration with a longitudinal.

.said shaft portion from said groove and extending laterally entirely across said shaft portion from side to side thereof beyond the lateral edges of said groove, said lateral edges of said transverse recess being disposed in said shaft portion below the level of the lateral edges of said groove.

10. A tool retainer for use with longitudinally-grooved and transversely-recessed tools, comprising a housing having therein a pair of intersecting bores, one bore being configured to receive said tool, and a rotary member disposed in the other bore, said rotary member having a cylindrical portion substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation thereof and engageable with said tool groove, said rotary member also having an offset portion rotatable into and out of said recess in response to the rotation of said rotary member, said offset portion extending transversely outward beyond and overhanging said cylindrical portion.

11. A tool retainer for use with longitudinally-grooved and transversely-recessed tools, comprising a housing having therein a pair of intersecting bores, one bore being configured to receive said tool, and a rotary member disposed in the other bore, said rotary member having a cylindrical portion substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation thereof and engageable with said tool groove, said rotary member also having an offset portion rotatable into and out of said recess in response to the rotation of said rotary member, said offset portion extending transversely outward beyond and overhanging said cylindrical portion, said other bore having a threaded portion and said rotary member having a correspondingly threaded part threadedly engaging said threaded portion.

12. A tool retainer for use With longitudinally-grooved and transversely-recessed tools, comprising a housing having therein a pair of intersecting bores, one bore being configured to receive said tool, and a rotary member disposed in the other bore, said rotary member having a cylindrical portion substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation thereof and engageable with said tool groove, said rotary member also having a partiallycylindrical portion rotatable into and out .of said recess in response to the rotation of said rotary member, said partially cylindrical portion extending transversely outward beyond and overhanging said cylindrical portion, said partially-cylindrical portion having a cutaway part disposed outside said recess in one direction of said rotary member.

13. A tool retainer for use with longitudinally-grooved and transversely-recessed tools, comprising a housing having therein a pair of intersecting bores, one bore being configured to receive said tool, the other bore having a plurality of coaxial bore portions of different diameters, and a rotary member disposed in the other bore, said rotary member having a cylindrical portion substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation thereof and positioned in one of said bore portions and engageable with said tool groove, said rotary member also having an offset portion positioned in another of said bore portions and rotatable into and out of said recess in response to the rotation of said rotary member, said offset portion extending transversely outward beyond and overhanging said cylindrical portion.

14. A tool retainer for use with longitudinally-grooved and transversely-recessed tools, comprising a housing having therein a pair of intersecting bores, one bore being configured to receive said tool, the other bore having a plurality of coaxial bore portions of diflferent diameters, one of said bore portions being threaded, and a rotary member disposed in the other bore, said rotary member having a cylindrical portion substantially coaxial with ti? gfi rotation: thereof positionezg ii1- ailseeolad one; Rtfbmnces- Citmi in the file of patent o 1 ore: portions and engagea "e wit sai i too N I 1 f graove; said rotary memberalso havingarr offset portibm UNIIED STATES PATENTS positibned' in a-third one ofsaidr'boreportionsan'drotat Ninnber: Nhme Date:

abliaiintmandoutlof saidrecess in response to" the-rota 5 Re. 18,395 Richard Mar; 22; 193.2"

tibn: of saidsrotary member, said-ofi'setportion extmld 1,516,602 Hill" Nbv;.2'5, 19-24 ing transversely outwardibeyond and overhanging said 1L785495 Richard Dec. 16, 193i)" cylindnica'h portion, and" said* rotary member having :1 11806 3694 Mhrk som May 26, 1931 correspundingly threaded portion threadedly engaging 1;89-9;326" Harrington Feb. 28", 193B said threa'deda bore P01110111. 10 2203528 5?" Stone MayS, 1936 21 07358 1 Parsons-ct a1? Feb; 8; 1938 23485380 Graham Mty-9', 1944" Z-;364,733: Mix-601mm. Dec: 1-2, 1944" 2393,986 Gullfierg Feb. 5', 1946" 25420;?46 Mileller Mayfi, 1-947- 

